HEALs: Health Care Exploration for Aspiring Leaders

Shape Your Future in Healthcare

The Healthcare Exploration for Aspiring Leaders (HEALs) program at Belmont University offers a unique early assurance program for aspiring healthcare professionals. This pre-health professional track combines comprehensive healthcare career preparation with guaranteed interviews for Belmont’s graduate and professional programs. As a premier healthcare professional school admissions pathway, HEALs provides Belmont pre-health majors with exceptional opportunities for career exploration and advancement.

Through HEALs, Belmont undergraduates can pursue direct pathways to Belmont's graduate healthcare programs, including the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Doctor of Medicine (MD) programs. This Belmont-exclusive pathway provides guaranteed interview opportunities for these prestigious healthcare professional schools, offering a significant advantage in your professional education journey.

Program Overview

HEALs represents Belmont University's commitment to fostering the next generation of healthcare leaders, combining structured career exploration with clear academic pathways. Beginning in your freshman year, this structured healthcare career exploration program guides you through understanding various medical and health professions before committing to a specific graduate track. Unlike more traditional early acceptance programs, HEALs empowers students to make informed decisions about their healthcare career path while securing their future in professional education.

Applying for HEALs

HEALs is open to currently enrolled students of any major that have expressed interest in pre-health on their first-year undergraduate application to Belmont.

First Year Requirements

Once a student has been admitted and enrolled, they must complete the following prerequisite courses during their first year and achieve a grade of B or better: 

• Principles of Biology I
• General Chemistry I (or Introductory Psychology for OT track)

Candidates must also participate in Pre-Health Certificate first year programming offered by the Office of Health Professions Advising (OHPA).

Second Year Application

Students who have completed their first year requirements and have maintained a minimum 3.0 institutional GPA will be invited to apply for conditional admission into the program. 

Students who receive conditional admission are required to complete the requirements for a competitive application for full acceptance:

• Meet Program-specific Admissions Standards (see Application Requirements below)
• If the student meets admissions requirements, offer to Interview is guaranteed
• Apply for Early Interview Day
• Applicants must successfully pass the Interview to be offered acceptance into program